Plein Air Pastel Tips #1

Tomorrow I will be heading towards one of the most beautiful islands Germany has to offer: the islands of Rügen in the far North East. I will be giving a plein air workshop in pastel and I thought this might be the opportunity to share some tips for painting with pastel en plein air.

How to choose a pallet

As pastel artist we need a certain collection of sticks to paint from. I usually advice not to buy the sets offered by different manufacturers but to choose from the open stock. In the end it’s cheaper.

Google for some photos of your painting location. Look at the colors at the different seasons. They can vary a lot so choose the colors of the season you’re travelling.

I work on the softer end of pastel range, because I like to blend a lot in my first layers. So I have to make sure that I have a supply of Sennelier. On top of that I use Unison or Terry Ludwig .There are artist who prefer the harder range. Just make sure it fits to your paper and painting style.

Be aware that you need really dark and light colors.

Almost more important are the neutrals colors, with low intensity. Here lies the secret of a good landscape painting. A special blog post on this follows.

I don’t take any black/ white colors with me. The sticks I use for the sky are light greens, or yellows or blues. This makes a sky luminance.

Then there is a point where you just have to close your pastel box and hope that you have the right color. And if not? Don’t whine but make the best out of it and find a solution that works.

Sonia Urriza

29th, May 2017 - 03:42 AM
|

Dear Astrid, I have followed with interest the info on your recent pastel workshop and very helpful tips. I understand you are planning to do one in 2018 in Croatia. Do you have the dates already? Many thanks, Sonia

About me

I am fascinated by the light conditions of the countryside, particularly in Northern Germany. I grew up in Hamburg so I am used to the rugged countryside and sometimes bleak weather and light conditions. The light in northern country landscapes is very special and it is indescribably beautiful. It touches my soul and opens up my heart when I visit the coast and feel the elemental force of the sea.
As opposed to my seascapes, I am very interested in the closely cropped views of the harbor and its endless diversity of shapes and colors.

With pastel painting l have found the ideal medium to artistically and creatively transform these special conditions of illumination. I love to spread pigment on paper without anything else in between.
Pastel paintings come alive when you put different layers of colour on the canvas. This is a great artistic stimulus for me. Which combination of colour pigments can be used to achieve precisely the effect of light and shade that I want? During the artistic process, layers of colour are continually built up and removed until the light situation has been captured and the picture can unfold its unique illuminating power.